Moistening crimper for fresh work cigar machines



Jan. 12, 1943. T. w. ALM 2,307,738

MOISTENING CRIMPER FOR FRESH WORK CIGAR MACHINES I Filed July 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTCISR THuRE W.AL.M

W AT-TO RN EY T. W. ALM

Jan. 12, 1943.

MOISTENING CRIMPER FOR FRESH WORK CIGAR MACHINES Filed July 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M L A i Y R M w R WW mT M VI B Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES FFICE lWOISTENING CRIlVEPER FOR FRESH WORK CIGAR MACHINES Thure W. Alm, Stewart Manor, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey 9 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines, more particularly to the crimper mechanism thereof wherein the ends of the cigar bunches are shaped. The main object of the invention is to improve the operation of the crimpers by moistening their bunch contacting faces instead of moistening the bunch ends by dampened wicks as heretofore. In the crimping of bunch ends which have been moistened by wicks it has been found that only one point or section of each bunch ends is moistened. In the present invention the moistening of the crimper faces causes the moisture to be distributed uniformly over the bunch ends. The use of wicks is also disadvantageous in that moisture would drip from them and be scattered in the direction of movement of the bunch impinging thereon, particularly at the maximum speeds of operation. To avoid this the cam actuating the bunch transfer carrying the bunch past the wicks has been re-designed to reduce thespeed of the bunch at the moment it contacts the wicks,

which is unnecessary with the present invention.

A further object of the invention is to deliver moisture to the operative faces of the bunch shaper members by mechanism controlled by the movement of the shaper members into operative position.

Still another object of the invention is to re late the delivery of the moistening liquid to the bunch shapers. To this end there is provided an adjustable valve which may be set to deliver the correct amount of moisture to the bunch ends. If an excessive amount is applied, as with wicks, the wrapper wound thereon after the crimping operation may be impaired. High grade tobacco, particularly light colored wrappers tend to be discolored if a drop of water reaches it. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference designate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the crimper jaws in their closed position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the crimper jaws in their down or open position; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings wherein the invention is shown in conjunction with a crimper mechanism of the type shown in the patent to W. B. Bronander, #1578579; granted March 30, 1926, a bracket 5 is provided to be mounted on the cigar machine in connection with which it is used. Pivotally mounted on the bracket 5 is an actuator 6 which has a rocking movement produced by a link 1 to one end of a cam lever B, which carries a cam roller 9 engaging in a track II! of cam II mounted on a shaft (not shown) of the cigar machine.

The bracket 5 is provided with a vertical bore in which a post I2 is mounted to slide. On the upper end of this post a head I3 is formed and to this head are bolted two shaping members I I adapted to act upon opposite ends of a cigar bunch.

At a point near the top of the bracket 5 a shaft I5 is journaled therein, and upon this shaft is pivoted a swinging bracket I6 having a head I! at its upper end to which are bolted two more shaping members I4 complementary tothe two shaping members carried by the head l3 and adapted to coact therewith to shape or crimp the bunch ends when brought into operative relationship.

Operative connections are interposed between the actuator 6 and the shaping members I4 for moving them in and out of co-acting relationship. As shown, the shaping members I4 which are bolted to the head I3 are given a reciprocating movement by means of a link I8, one end of which is pivoted at I9 to a boss 29' formed on the head I3. The other end of link I8 is pivotally connected at 2| to the actuator 6. At the proper time, the actuator 6 is rocked on its pivot, and this rocking movement actuates the link It which in turn raises or lowers the post I2 with the two shaping members It on head I3, as the case may be.

The actuator 6 is provided with a cam surface 2223, the former being nearly radial and the latter concentric with the pivot upon which the actuator rocks. This cam surface is in contact with a cam roller 24 mounted on the lower end of the swinging bracket I6, and, when the actuator 5 is rocked, this cam surface serves to swing the bracket it from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 during the first part of its movement while the face 22 contacts the roller 25, and to hold it in the latter position during the latter part of its movement while the roll 24 is in rolling contact with the face 23. A tension spring 25, the ends of which are respectively connected to a stud 26 on thebracket I6 and to a stud 2'! formed on the end of the actuator pivot, serves to hold the cam roller 24 in contact with the cam surface 22-23 at all times. A cigar bunch is introduced between the shaping members while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. The rocking movement of the cam controlled actuator 6 then begins and the members |4 carried by head |3 begin to raise while the shaping members 4 carried by the swinging bracket |6 are swung into the position shown in Fig. 1. A further rocking movement of the actuator in the same direction results in elevating the shaping members carried by the head I 3 to their uppermost position while the other shaping members remain stationary during the rolling contact of the cam roller 24 on the cam surface 23. In this position the bunch is shaped and upon a reverse rocking movement of the actuator 6 the shaping members are separated in order that the bunch may be taken from between them.

The head |3 is equipped with holders 28 carrying felt pads 29 held in position by wires 39. The

felt pads 29 are placed adjacent the path of the shaping members l4 and fitted to conform to the shape of the said members. The boss 26 of head I 3 supports a bar 3| which in turn carries a crossbar 32 supporting two adjustably mounted valve operating rods 33 adapted to engage valve arms 34, when the head |3 elevates its shaping members M to their uppermost position as shown in Fig. l. The opposite ends of the arms 34 are guided in slotted lugs 35 extending from the reservoir 36, said arms normally resting against a cross bar 37 secured to lugs 38 of the reservoir. The valve plungers 39 engage in valve bodies 49 and are provided with collars 4| at their upper end which rest on arms 34, and also have collars 42 supporting one end of compression springs 43 which at their other end bear against the bottom of cross bar 31. With the arms 34 lifted, the collars 4| are caused to rise and consequently lift plungers 39 whereby the cone shaped portion 44 of the plungers will be released from their correspondingly shaped seats, in the valve bodies and permit water which is stored in the reservoir to pass through port holes 45 into the valves and pass through tubes 46 and 41 leading to their respective felt pads 29. The water trickling from the tubes 46 and 41 tend to keep the pads 29 moist for subsequent operation it being evident that the valves will be opened each time the head |3 advances to its uppermost position and be closed as head l3 descends to its lowermost position shown in Fig. 2. The amount of water trickling on to the felt pads 29 may be regulated by adjusting the valve operating rods 33, which are threaded into the bar 32, that is when said rods are lengthened the plungers 39 will be lifted a greater distance thus exposing a larger opening at the outlet of the ports 45 than if the rods be shortened when there is a shorter ascent of the plungers and consequently exposure of a smaller outlet at the ports 45. With the rods adjusted to properly suit the conditions, their position is retained by tightening of wing nuts 48 mounted on their threaded portions. The reservoir 36 is mounted on a support 49 carried by an existing bracket 59 suitably mounted on the cigar machine.

When the shaping members M of the swinging bracket l6 move to the position shown in Fig. 1, the portions of the members l4 are in the path of the ascending shaping members l4 secured to the head l3, wherefore the portions 5| of members 4 will engage the edge of their re- One of the trimming members 55 is attached to the upper end of an arm 56 fast on the shaft ments of the same.

l5, and the other one is attached to the upper end of a lever 57 also fast on shaft l5. This lever 51 has a short arm 58 which lies in the path of a stud 59 carried on an arm 60 integral with the actuator 6. A stop screw 6| adjustably secured in a boss 62 formed on the lever I6 limits the movement of the lever 51 in one direction, and the lever is normally held against this stop by the action of a compression spring 63 of well known construction'and operation.

When the parts have reached the position shown in Fig. 1, the shaping members remain stationary While the cam roller 24 is then rolling on the cam surface 23 and the pivot 21 is almost in line with the fulcrum 2| of the actuator and the pivot l9. At this time the pin 59 has come into engagement with the short arm 58 of the lever 51 and a little farther rocking movement of the actuator 6 throws the trimming members into operation. When the actuator is rocked in the opposite direction the trimming means is first thrust back to its normal position, then the post |2 islowered, and during the latter part of its down movement the bracket I6 is swung outward- 1y to release the shaped bunch.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many concrete embodi- The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, the combination with movable bunch shaping members having relative movement toward and away from each other, of mechanism for periodically moving said members, means actuated by the movement of said members for supplying moisture thereto, said means including a conduit leading to said members, and a valve in said conduit controlled by said movement of said members.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with pairs of relatively movable crimper jaws coacting to crimp the ends of a cigar bunch, of a moist pad mounted on one jaw of each set to engage the adjacent face of the opposing jaw of each set, whereby moisture will be pressed out of the pad by the engagement of the face of the opposing jaw with the padduring the relative movement of the crimper jaws and wiped down upon the bunch ends prior to crimping the cigar bunch.

3. In a cigar machine, the combination with pairs of relatively movable crimper jaws coacting to crimp the ends of a cigar bunch, of a moist pad mounted on one jaw of each set to engage the adjacent face of the opposing jaw of each set, whereby moisture will be pressed out of the pads by the faces of the opposing jaws of each set during the relative movement of the crimper jaws and wiped down upon the bunch ends, a reservoir arranged to supply moisture to said pads, and a control means associated with saidreservoir for starting and stopping the supply of moisture to said pads in timed relation with the operation of said machine.

4. A device for supplying moistening liquid to a cigar bunch crimper mechanism, comprising a reservoir, a conduit arranged to deliver the liquid from said reservoir to one crimper jaw of the crimper mechanism, a push rod adapted to be connected to said crimper jaw, and a springpressed valve in said conduit controlled by said push rod.

5. A device for supplying moistening liquid to a cigar bunch crimper mechanism, comprising a reservoir, a conduit arranged to deliver the liquid from said reservoir to one crimper jaw of the crimper mechanism, a push rod adapted to be connected to said crimper jaw, and a springpressed valve in said conduit controlled by said push rod, and means for adjusting the degree of opening of said valve.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with movable bunch shaping members, of mechanism for periodically moving said members, means for dribbling moisture on said members, and mechanism actuated in timed relation with said members for starting and stopping the operation of said dribbling means.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination with pairs of relatively movable shaping jaws coacting to shape the ends of a cigar bunch, of moisture retaining means mounted on one of said movable jaws constructed and arranged so that the other coacting jaw will engage with said moisture retaining means to wipe moisture down upon the shaping jaws immediately prior to shaping the ends of a cigar bunch, and means for bringing said jaws into and out of shaping relationship.

8. In a cigar machine, the combination with pairs of relatively movable shaping jaws coacting to shape the ends of a cigar bunch, of a moisture absorbent member connected to one movable jaw of each pair and positioned in the path of travel of the coacting shaping jaw so that the coacting jaw will squeeze moisture from said member by engaging therewith and wipe moisture down upon said shaping jaws immediately prior to the shaping operation, and means for supplying a substantially predetermined amount of moisture to said member during one portion of each shaping cycle.

9. In a cigar machine, the combination with pairs of relatively movable bunch shaping jaws coacting to shape cigar bunches, of a moistening member mounted on one movable jaw of each set constructed and arranged so that the adjacent jaw engages with said member when being brought into coacting relation to cause moisture to be delivered to the bunch contacting surfaces of the' jaws immediately prior to the shaping operation, means for delivering a substantially predetermined supply of moisture to said members, and means for starting and stopping the delivery of said moisture to said members in certain predetermined portions of the shaping cycle.

THURE W. ALM. 

